Complexity-based analysis of cellular flickering

摘要

Provided herein are methods and systems for assessing cellular flickering. The methods include using a phase contrast microscope to obtain a plurality of images of a cell, digitizing and/or pixilating the plurality of images such that the plurality of images are segmented into an array of pixels, each pixel representing a portion of the cell, and measuring the fluctuations in the pixel intensities. The methods further include calculating a complexity measure for the individual pixels based on the measured fluctuations of the portions of the cell represented by the individual pixels. Such complexity measures can then be mapped and/or plotted in order to assess cellular flickering, and thereby assess biological function and other characteristics of the cell.